Resume
Horace Mann, regarded as the "father of American education," believed that a better public education for the children of America would form a brighter, smarter generation and would "equalize the conditions of men." He spent his years learning new ways to combat what he believed were to be the six public school problems, as stated in The Common School Journal, a journal in which he founded and edited in 1838: the public should no longer remain ignorant, the public education should be controlled by the public and be paid by their taxes, public education should be welcomed to all children from different backgrounds, there should be no discrimination in the public schools, public education should be taught by the spirit, methods, and discipline of a free society; and public education should be provided by well-trained, professional teachers. He also fought for the rights for women to be recruited as teachers, the suspension of corporal punishment in school discipline, and the instillation of free public libraries.
Mann spent a good amount of years traveling around the world looking for ways to reform the public education system, and along the way creating the Common School system. He traveled across America, but mostly in Massachusetts, examining school grounds and campaigning for the public support to better the public system; his efforts were found fruitful as schools across America were beginning improve. In 1843 Mann went to Prussia to report and publish his findings on the success of the Prussian education system; Massachusetts adopted the Prussian system in 1852, with New York soon following suit. Most of Mann's actions were found successful; however, he did receive some opposition from schoolmasters, parents, and religious men, but they did not undermine Mann's campaign. The government could aid Mann's plan by offering financial support to help with Mann's campaign across the nation and his travels over the globe. Moreover, the money could go straight to the reform by helping to increase teachers' wages, build more secondary schools, increase the State aid for education, compensate school committees to teaching improvement, and providing textbooks and educational equipment.
Mann's goals and intent by educating reform was very practical at the time. The era in America no longer called for the farmers or emigrants, but to finally have a new generation of forward thinking innovators who could revolutionize this single country so the following eras could be brighter. The only way to change a generation for the better is to teach them while they're young, which is Mann's ideas at their core. He hoped to bring all the children together in classes so they could have a common learning experience and the expel inequality of races and riches in the schoolhouse, allowing them to be brought up with a sense of fairness as well as social advancement. Also, this would allow children who were misbehaved at home to be instilled with values, such as obedience, promptness, and organization skills; more occupations outside of farming were popping up, and it was, and still is, important to have these values to prepare for future employment. And thanks to Mann's efforts, his ideals still ring true today in America. Public education is regarded as one of the main priorities the public should care about. Also, Americans today pay taxes to help fund public education, something Mann spent a good time campaigning about. Overall, Mann has done a great service for America.
Questions
Dorothea Dix: What is the direct benefit from aiding the mentally handicapped? Do they help with American politics or finances? If not, then why should money go towards your cause?
Mother Ann Lee: If The Shakers don't have intercourse, then how do you procreate to help further your cause for future generations? Why should the money go towards your group if, following logic here, your group will end abruptly, about 70 years from now?
References
Rebecca Pennell: In Mann's later years, he settled down and became president of the newly founded Antioch College at Yellow Springs, Ohio. During his presidency, he employed Pennell, the first woman faculty member to be paid equally with her male colleagues. She also happened to be Mann's niece.
Henry Barnard: Just as Mann's primary focus in America was Massachusetts, Barnard's educational reform was mainly in Connecticut. Both Mann and Barnard lived in the 19th Century and shared the same goal. They both became leaders in the movement to reform the American education system and the common schools of the country.
Horace Mann, regarded as the "father of American education," believed that a better public education for the children of America would form a brighter, smarter generation and would "equalize the conditions of men." He spent his years learning new ways to combat what he believed were to be the six public school problems, as stated in The Common School Journal, a journal in which he founded and edited in 1838: the public should no longer remain ignorant, the public education should be controlled by the public and be paid by their taxes, public education should be welcomed to all children from different backgrounds, there should be no discrimination in the public schools, public education should be taught by the spirit, methods, and discipline of a free society; and public education should be provided by well-trained, professional teachers. He also fought for the rights for women to be recruited as teachers, the suspension of corporal punishment in school discipline, and the instillation of free public libraries.
Mann spent a good amount of years traveling around the world looking for ways to reform the public education system, and along the way creating the Common School system. He traveled across America, but mostly in Massachusetts, examining school grounds and campaigning for the public support to better the public system; his efforts were found fruitful as schools across America were beginning improve. In 1843 Mann went to Prussia to report and publish his findings on the success of the Prussian education system; Massachusetts adopted the Prussian system in 1852, with New York soon following suit. Most of Mann's actions were found successful; however, he did receive some opposition from schoolmasters, parents, and religious men, but they did not undermine Mann's campaign. The government could aid Mann's plan by offering financial support to help with Mann's campaign across the nation and his travels over the globe. Moreover, the money could go straight to the reform by helping to increase teachers' wages, build more secondary schools, increase the State aid for education, compensate school committees to teaching improvement, and providing textbooks and educational equipment.
Mann's goals and intent by educating reform was very practical at the time. The era in America no longer called for the farmers or emigrants, but to finally have a new generation of forward thinking innovators who could revolutionize this single country so the following eras could be brighter. The only way to change a generation for the better is to teach them while they're young, which is Mann's ideas at their core. He hoped to bring all the children together in classes so they could have a common learning experience and the expel inequality of races and riches in the schoolhouse, allowing them to be brought up with a sense of fairness as well as social advancement. Also, this would allow children who were misbehaved at home to be instilled with values, such as obedience, promptness, and organization skills; more occupations outside of farming were popping up, and it was, and still is, important to have these values to prepare for future employment. And thanks to Mann's efforts, his ideals still ring true today in America. Public education is regarded as one of the main priorities the public should care about. Also, Americans today pay taxes to help fund public education, something Mann spent a good time campaigning about. Overall, Mann has done a great service for America.
Questions
References
Works Cited
"Barnard, Henry." Infoplease. Infoplease, 2007. Web. 04 Oct. 2012. <http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0806233.html>.
"Horace Mann (1796-1859)." Only A Teacher - Schoolhouse Pioneers. PBS, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2012. <http://www.pbs.org/onlyateacher/horace.html>.
"Horace Mann." Agricultural and Extension Education. NC State University, n.d. Web. 04 Oct. 2012.
<http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/agexed/aee501/mann.html>.
"Horace Mann." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 10 July 2012. Web. 04 Oct. 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Mann>.